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Senators Introduce Algorithm Accountability Act Targeting Liability for Recommendation Algorithms

The bipartisan proposal narrows immunity for large, for-profit social platforms by imposing a duty of care for recommendation systems that pose foreseeable physical risks.

Overview

  • Sens. John Curtis and Mark Kelly unveiled the bill to amend Section 230 so platforms can be sued when recommendation engines foreseeably contribute to bodily injury or death.
  • The measure imposes a duty of care requiring platforms to exercise reasonable care in the design, training, testing, deployment, operation, and maintenance of recommendation algorithms.
  • It applies to for-profit social platforms with more than one million users and preserves chronological feeds, direct search results, and protections against viewpoint-based enforcement.
  • The legislation creates a private right of action for victims and allows states to enact similar or stronger protections aligned with the federal standard.
  • Supporters cite evidence of radicalization and self-harm linked to algorithmic promotion, while civil-liberty groups like the EFF warn of over-removal of content, and the bill has been introduced but not scheduled for a vote.